Display, advertising, and propaganda device



Feb. 7, 1939. M. TODD 2,146,386

DISPLAY, ADVERTISING, AND PROPAGANDA DEVICE Filed July28, 1938 INVENF Jung WM. BY

ATTORN EY aieliiedfrenzlcss C 2,146,. l 86" v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE v DISPLAY, ADVERTISING; AND PROPAGANDA DEVICE a Michael Todd, New York, N. Y., assignor to Yermie Stern Commercial Attraction; New York, N. Y. i

Application July 28, 193%, Serial No. 221,818 a o '1 Claim. (01. 272-3) p The invention relates to a display, advertising his activities in a snow-coveredshouse which is and. propaganda device; its attraction creating set up in awinterly landscape.

property is mainly based on the specific and in The drawing forming part of thisspecification dividual utilizationof a known] opticalillusion illustrating this embodiment of the invention 5 producing method. shows a partial vertical section of the house, 5

.lIt'lS the object of the invention to manufacture which is set against an opening in a wall 2 of the a device of the namedtype which can be easily building in which the device is displayed. qadap ted to special, for instance seasonal adver- The person or other object which is to be shown 1 tising and propaganda requirements and variaas a phantom image and in thepresent exeinplitions without departing from the present utilizafication of the invention takes the figure of Santa tion of the known illusion creating principles Claus sitting inhis workshop behind the win- It is a further object of the invention to create dow i is indicated asA. .The window, through i a devicefor establishing and carrying out aupropwhich the observers look into Santa Claus workagandistic activity by the application of typical shop is located in the front-wall I of the toy' or hi5 figures, for instance historical figures, figures dummy house B. Thiswindow at thesame time from fairy-tales and the like in combinationwith comprises the lens of the optical system which i the mentioned illusioncreatingprinciple. produces the phantom person C of Santa Claus It is a further object of the invention to prowithin the house 13. o p

duce' a device which is particularly adapted to Itis apparent that the lens '4 apart of its excite the attention and the interest of the cusoptical function as an illusion; creating device tomers of department stores or similar. establishforms in the present case an operating element ments. 7 i v of the display device namely a. window of the Itis a further object of the invention to pardummy house B; within which the workshop of ticularly act on the imagination of children and Santa Claus is located. Instead of entirely re- 1 o to awaken their interest by displaying moving and placingthe window by the lens 4 as shown in operating dummy figures. the drawing the latter may also be used in com Theillusion creating method used in connecbination with a glass window, in which case the l tion with this invention is based on the applica-- latter may be located directly in front of the lens,

tion of suitable optical means particularly a lens, the latter for instance having a semi-concave;

by means of which the movements and the acshape. o o tionsof a person may be transmitted as a phan- .It is understood that the device shown repretom image to any desired place and at the same sents one embodimentofthe invention only. ,time may be reduced to any desired size. Instead of a house anyother suitable encas- In the known devices for the practical applicaing may be used in order to enclose and charaction of this principle the lens only serves the terize the phantom image of the person or object purpose of creating the phantom image. chosen in connection with the specific displaying The present invention is differentiated from or advertising problem in question. o l

the known devicesbytheessential fact that the I claim: 3

lensbesidesits optical action servesasa fumeadvertising device comprising a miniature {tional element of the display device itself and house set in .front and against an opening of a forms an operating part of same. wall, alenscreating within said house the reduced 1 p W the afOrBSa d Obj c s in View the inven image of a person acting behind the wall, said tion s n t e fo ow description e p fied lens being a part of the window inserted in a wall fas a displaying, advertising and propaganda apof said house. i

* paratus for Christmas; the typical figure of Santa it Claus or Kris Kringlebeing shown performing IVIlZCHAEL TODD. 5 

